A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) vs. Yaeyama Islands for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Yaeyama Islands. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands?

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

Yaeyama Islands

The Yaeyama Islands is a cluster of islands located in the southwestern part of Japan, close to Taiwan. There are nine different islands, varying from small islets to large holiday resort islands. The Yaeyama Islands are one of the most popular destination in Japan due to their beautiful beaches and underwater ruins. Yaeyama is also known for having their own language and writing system. For the most part, everyone on the Islands speak Japanese, but you'll often find the Yaeyama writing on T-shirts in souvenir shops or scattered around Yaeyama.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 10-Day Tours in China, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Yaeyama Islands, we can see that Yaeyama Islands is more expensive. And not only is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yaeyama Islands would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yaeyama Islands than you might in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain).

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) Expensive? and Is Yaeyama Islands Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands?

Both destinations experience a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. And since both cities are in the northern hemisphere, summer is in July and winter is in January.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands in the Summer?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. Also, the beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Yaeyama Islands this time of year.

In the summer, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is around the same temperature as Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the summer temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in July average around 29°C (85°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 29°C (85°F).

It rains a lot this time of the year in Yaeyama Islands. It's quite rainy in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). In July, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives around the same amount of rain as Yaeyama Islands. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 179 mm (7 in) of rain each month for the summer.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands in the Autumn?

Both Yaeyama Islands and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) during the autumn are popular places to visit. Also, many travelers come to Yaeyama Islands for the hiking trails and the natural beauty of the area.

In October, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is generally cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Daily temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) average around 19°C (65°F), and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).

Yaeyama Islands gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets less rain in October than Yaeyama Islands. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 74 mm (2.9 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 173 mm (6.8 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) and Yaeyama Islands. Also, many visitors come to Yaeyama Islands in the winter for the museums and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain). Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is much colder than Yaeyama Islands in the winter. The daily temperature in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) averages around 4°C (40°F) in January, and Yaeyama Islands fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

Yaeyama Islands receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually receives less rain than Yaeyama Islands. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 38 mm (1.5 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.

Should I visit Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) or Yaeyama Islands in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) as well as Yaeyama Islands. Also, most visitors come to Yaeyama Islands for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months.

In the spring, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is cooler than Yaeyama Islands. Typically, the spring temperatures in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in April average around 17°C (62°F), and Yaeyama Islands averages at about 23°C (74°F).

It's quite rainy in Yaeyama Islands. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) receives a lot of rain in the spring. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) usually gets more rain in April than Yaeyama Islands. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) gets 170 mm (6.7 in) of rain, while Yaeyama Islands receives 147 mm (5.8 in) of rain this time of the year. May to June in Yaeyama Islands is the rainy season.

Typical Weather for Yaeyama Islands and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)